City dream team?

It looks like it's going to take a jump ball to decide which cities get possession of some NBA Development League franchises, but the birthplace of basketball looks like it has a good shot at landing one.

The D-League, as it is commonly known, is expected to announce expansion soon, and Springfield is definitely in the mix, according to Joanna Shapiro, the NBA's spokesman for the league. "Optimism is certainly warranted," Shapiro added.

While that may not be enough to run with the ball, Springfield officials think the city has positioned itself to make an outstanding play for a National Basketball Association minor league team. The league's teams are primarily located in the Midwest and Southwest, but it is looking to expand in the Northeast.

A Springfield franchise would play its home games at the MassMutual Center.

We're rooting for the home team to capture a franchise as the 16-team D-League looks to add one or two new teams to its roster.